MLP makes five promises in "pact" with the people

Alfred Sant and the Labour Party's two deputy leaders yesterday signed a 'pact' with voters pledging not to stand for re-election if they did not fulfil their electoral promises once voted to power next Saturday.

The 'pact' was signed in the presence of Dr Mark Anthony Sammut and two witnesses representing the public.

All the MLP's candidates, councillors, executive members and administration members were present for the formal signing ceremony at Le Meridien Phoenicia Hotel in Floriana.

The pledge is not the first that Dr Sant has made in similar circumstances.

In October 1996, in the run-up to that year's election, Dr Sant, together with deputy leaders George Abela and George Vella, had met in St John Square and symbolically signed a declaration for an effective and clean administration.

The declaration had outlined the measures proposed by the MLP in its electoral programme to ensure transparency and accountability.

The new pact promises to curb the tax burden through a two-month income tax break to workers and a one-off bonus to students, pensioners and the unemployed.

Farmers, herdsmen and fishermen would be exempted from income tax for a period of between five to 10 years, while the self-employed would be given an "adequate" tax credit.

The second promise concentrates on new job opportunities with a new tourism project to be carried out every year.

The Grand Harbour area, from Cottonera to Valletta and on to the coast of Sliema would be injected with new life with the projects at Cottonera, the Sea Passenger Terminal, the development of the Old Royal Opera House, Fort St Elmo and Fort St Angelo.

The third promise is about the closure of the Maghtab and Qortin dumps and protection of the environment as well as the island's cultural heritage.

The fourth promise focuses on improving the education sector for government schools to become the best on the island.

The Labour government would also set up a fund of Lm1.5 million for student grants to study abroad and students would have the right to view their exam papers when they request a revision of papers.

The final promise is a social commitment which guarantees state pensions and ensures that no VAT would be imposed on food, medicines or books.

Dr Sant said this pact was being signed "with a sense of humility" to ensure that those who voted for the Labour Party could be certain that the electoral promises would be fulfilled.

He said that these promises were realistic and showed that the party had the national interest at heart.